Metal lined cupola



March 9, 1954 w. H. MOORE 2,671,658

METAL LINED CUROLA Filed Feb. 14, 1951 5 Sheeis-Sheet l F PIPE I 5 F/g/t coounr INLET PIPE INVENTOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MOORE March 9, 1954 w. H. MOORE 2,671,658

METAL LINED CUPOLA Filed Feb. 14, 1951 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MOORE March 9, 1954 w. H. MOORE METAL LINED CUPOLA 5Sheets-Sheet ;5

Filed Feb. 14, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MORE "Fig.7

GOOLANT INLET INVENTOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MOORE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Qmmww lilli W. H. MOORE METAL LINEDCUPOLA LEM/29 March 9, 1954 Filed Feb. 14, 1951 Patented Mar. 9, 1954METAL LINED CUPOLA William Henry Moore, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor toMeehanite Metal Corporation, a corporation of Tennessee ApplicationFebruary 14, 1951, Serial No. 210,831

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates in general to cupolas and more particularly tocupolas for melting cast iron.

An object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having an innershellor lining above the tuyres which avoids the use of refractorymaterials.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having aninner shell or lining above the tuyeres constructed of metals having ahigh melting point, such as iron, steel, or other ferrous metals oralloys, as well as non-ferrous metals which are commonly used in wateror other coolant Jackets, such as copper or aluminum and their alloys.This class of materials will hereinafter be referred to as heatdissipating metals and may comprise metallic sections or blocks, eithercast or fabricated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having theinner shell or lining for the melting zone, as well as for the chargingzone,

constructed of heat dissipating metals in sections or in blocks directlyexposed to the melting charge without any refractory lining protectingsame.

Another object of the invention is the provision e of cooling themetallic sections or blocks.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inner shell orlining for the melting zone constructed of a plurality of arcuatemetallic sections in which each section is provided with fluidpassageways whereby a coolant may be passed therethrough to remove heattherefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision controlling the flow ofa coolant through the fluid passageways by thermostatic means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inner shell orlining for the melting zone which has a greater diameter at the bottomnear the tuyeres than at the top.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having acharging zone with an inner shell or lining constructed of heatdissipating metallic sections or blocks wherein the sections or blocksmay be cooled, by presenting a cooling surface to atmosphere, bypresenting a cooling surface to an incoming air blast used for cupolacombustion, or by presenting a cooling surface to water spray with atrough to collect the water and remove it continuously.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claim taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cupola embodying the invention,the major part being shown in section to particularly illustrate thearrangement of the internal construction, the external pipingarrangement for the coolant being omitted;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the metallic sections or blocksconstituting the ininner shell or lining for the charging zone;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1,showing principally the external piping arrangement for the flow of thecoolant through the arcuate sections constituting the inner shell orlining for the melting zone;

Figure 4 is a plan or top view of one of the arcuate sections of themelting zone of the cupola;

Figure 5 is a view of the back side of the arcuate section shown inFigure 4 with a portion of the back side removed to illustrate thecircuitous coolant passageways provided therein;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 66 of Figure 1,showing principally the cooling vanes for the metallic sectionsor'blocks constituting the inner shell or lining for the charging zone;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1, but shows the external coolingsurface of the metallic sections or blocks of the charging zone exposedfor atmospheric cooling.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1, but shows the external coolingsurface of the metallic sections or blocks of the charging zone exposedfor water spray cooling;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the inner shell orlining for the melting zone, the Figure 9 being taken along the line 99of Figure 10 and also showing the external pipe arrangement.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 9 taken along the linellll 8 thereof and shows the external arrangement of the pipesencompassing the cupola for the coolant; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the arcuate sections whichdefine the inner shell or lining for the melting zone in Figure 9, theFigure 9 showing a melting zone two sections high.

With reference to Figure 1, I show a cupola which comprises an innercoolant shell or lining for the melting zone. The cupola comprises ingeneral an outer metal Wall 26 supported on suitable legs 2I. The outermetal wall 20 surrounds the melting zone l8 and the well it. The cupolamay be charged through a door 22 in the side wall of the upper portionthereof. The enlarged intermediate portion 23 comprises a wind boxhaving tuyeres 24 through which air may be introduced into the meltingzone which is immediately above the tuyeres and which is the hottheireferencercharacter 161 I .1, .the circuitous coolant passage ,means.is "illustest part of the cupola. Below the melting zone l8 and thetuyeres 24 is the well [9 into which the molten metal drops and collectsbefore being tapped off through a tap hole into a cupola spout 26. Onthe side opposite from the cupola spout 26 is a slag spout 21 which islocated a short distance below the tuyeres. The bottom of wellHis-supported byran outer supportring 2 8 in the middleuofiwhichare theconventional drop doors supported by a support member or prop 29. Theinner casing of the well is lined with refractory material 30 whichretains the molten metal after it drops from the melting-zone.

In the construction of the :cupola, .thejnner shell or lining for themelting zone lB-comprises tions .are preferably made of cast iron orsteel .butsmay-be made ,of .any other .heat dissipatin metal having asufficiently high melting ,point. The ,arcuatesection 3,8. is shown "in.Figures Aand -.of..the ,drawingatheilligure 4 being -a top plan viewandthe Figure 5being ,a viewofitheback of .the section with .a portion .ofthe ,back being :broken .away to illustrate .the circuitous coolantpassage means therethrough. The individual arcuate sections areidentical and the section .33.,as..shown in =Figures ,i-and 5 .comprises,pref- .erably a cast .metal leasing having inner wall 52 provided withvertically extending sides .53 and 54 and atop 55 and a bottom56..Secured to .the back Lof -the arouate section visa boiler plate .59which maybe WGIdBd.QlHOllhGlWlSfiSG- cured .thereto to provide aleakeproof assembly. In order to .provide :aeircuitous coolant passage.means.ineachsection, there ,are a plurality of .Webs .51 extending,from the side. 53 and .a plurality of webs .58 extending from the side.54.

The ,webs .are preferably .cast' integrally .with the arcuate wall 52and laterally extend.to..a.point short ofreaching-the opposite sidewall. .As il- .lustrated in .Figure 5, EthiS -stagger,e d :web .ar-,rangement .provides :a circuitous .passage means for the coolant tokeep-the temperature below =the melting-zpoint of ithe :cast metalsections. The ,inlet 2for-each section .is located at the bottom and is"indicated by the reference character-16.0, and the outlet is at the topand indicated by As shown-:imFigure :trated byrthe reference.characterrSZ. -Preferably,

stheecross-sectional areas of :the circuitous coolant passage means 62becomes largerrasrthe .cool- .a-nt approaches:the'topsoxthat the :flowof the :coclant-::therethrough is reduced'as it approaches thertop. .-Asshown in .Figure l, the flow. of the coolant through thecircuitous-passage means .62 is regulated by a thermostatic .valve whichis mounted in the pipe connected to the outlet -6| 'atithe top o'f eacharcuate section. --Also, it is to beobserved inFigure 1 that the innerwall of tile-plurality of'c-astmetal arcuate sections slopes slightlyoutwardly as the melting charge ap- =-proaches the tuyres with theresult that the diameter of the melting zone immediately above -thetuyresis greater than that of the "top of the-melting zone. The heightof the arcuatesections -may range from three to six feet above'thetuyres. After the plurality of cast metal ar- -cuate "sections -33 to'43 are installed forming -a complete circle-for the melting zone, Ipreferably 40k ,a suitable :refractory meter *4] "between .vided withcooling .vanes .49 which-extend there- .around to present alargecoolingarea. .The air 4 the plurality of arcuate sections and the outer metalwall 20.

Above the melting zone which terminates at the top of the plurality ofcast metal sections is the charging zone which extends up into thecharging door 22. In constructing the charging zone, I preferably employseveral layers, four beingashcwnzinsthe drawings although any numbermaybe used, of arcuate sections-.or-iblocks 48.

These blocks extend up to the charging door and .are preferably made ofcast iron or any other suitable ferrous material. Therefore, it is to benotedthat the entire inner shell surface of the .char ingzone and :themelting zone comprises i heat dissipating metal without any refractorylining iprotectingsame. The arcuate sections or blocks 48 are preferablymade of four segments to'makethe complete circle, although any number ofsegments may be used and they may be mounted and held together in anysuitable man- The outside of the .arcuate sections .is .pro-

blast entering sthe windbox 23 through duct 5,0 circulates past ..thesecooling vanes to keep the arcuate sections cool. Thus, the ,seg-

.ments are air cooled .,and,. of .course, .the :blast itself becomesheated, which offers very distinct advantages in ,the operation .of the.cupola. .By

utilizing .this heat taken fromthe upper region of .the.cupola,.I .amable, not onl -.to.maintain the thermal efiiciencyrof .thercupola, butalso-to increase the thermalefliciency. Thus,.it is-.,to be observedthat the :construction of the changing ,zone, is ,such that .I am .able.to-eliminateirb fractory materials as ;-a,lining,.as well as.toiutilize .of brevity, .thepipesforthesection. 38ionlyxwill bedescribed since ;the pipes "for therother :sections aresubstantially'the :same. with reference to the arcuate -seetion.'3'8,thecoolantiis delivered from a coolant feed manifold-5 through as. feedpipe :64 that leads-to theinletefio at @,the bottom of .the arcuatesection =38. .Armainfeed uvalve 63 controls :the coolant feedrmanifold1&5. =T-he flow. of fluid through 1the inlet pipe 284 :may be controlledby a valve .66. i

The coolant upon leaving 5 the :3 section ".38 v. flows .out of :the:outlet 16! "through anoutlet .pipe 68 which is -:,connected to acoolant outlet :manifold :61. 'I 'hequantity or:rate ofxflow of thecoolant through the outlet pipe :68 is controlled by =a :thermostaticvalve indicated by *the reference character I69 whichdetermines thetemperature at which the :coolant "leavesthe top of the arouate section38. It is to be'obser'ved that-cachet the other cast metal arcuatesections-namely,

35, 40, 4 I, 42 and 43, have thermostatic valves that theheat removedfrom the metallic j arcuate sections maintains the temperature of themetallic sections at a point below the melting point thereof SO" th&tatno time duriustheoperation of the cupola is there any damagejdone tothe inner shell ,or wall of the plurality .of m tal sections o ".themelting zone:

In Figure 7 I show a modified form of the cupola, in that the coolingvanes 49 present a cooling surface to atmosphere instead of being cooledby an incoming blast of air through the wind box, which in Figure 7encompasses only the metallic arcuate sections comprising the meltingzone. Otherwise, the operation of the furnace in Figure 7 issubstantially the same as that shown in Figure 1. In Figure 8 I show asecond modified form of the cupola, in that the cooling vanes 49 presentcooling surfaces which are adapted to be cooled by a water spray 75emanating from a circular pipe 76 connected to a suitable water supplysource through a pipe 77. The sprayed water upon striking the coolingvanes 49 eventually collects in a circular basin 18 from which thecollected water flows therefrom through a discharge pipe 79. Thetemperature of the charging zone may be regulated by varying the amountof the spray in order to keep the cupola operating at its highest pointof efliciency.

In Figures 9, and 11 I show a modified construction of the acuatesections which define the melting zone, in that I employ cast metalarcuate sections 80 having the circuitous fluid passage means castdirectly in the sections to provide fluid passageways 8| therein. InFigures 9, 10 and 11, I illustrate three arcuate sections, although itis to be understood that any number may be employed. As shown in Figure9, the acuate sections are two courses high, and after they areinstalled to form a complete circle defining the melting zone, a packingmortar 81 is filled in between the arcuate sections and the outsidemetal wall 20. The bottom of each section is provided with a feed pipe85 and the top of each section is provided with an outlet pipe 86. Thefeed pipes 85 for each section communicate with an inlet manifold 84 andthe outlet pipes 86 communicate with an outlet manifold 81. The pipearrangement as shown in Figure 9 is such that the coolant through thetwo courses may be in parallel or in series. When the two courses of thecast metal arcuate sections are connected in series, the valves 9| and92 are closed and the valve 90 is open. Incoming fluid or coolant flowsthrough the lower feed pipe 83, the manifold pipe 84, the passageways 8|of the cast metal sections of the lower course, the outlet pipes 86, theoutlet manifold pipe 87, the valve 88, and back into the inlet manifold84 of the top course. The coolant, after flowing through the top course,is discharged from the outlet manifold 87 into a discharge pipe 88. Whenthe coolant pipes are arranged in parallel for the two courses of thearcuate sections, the valves 9| and 92 are opened and the valve 99 isclosed. In this event, the coolant enters the two feed supply pipes 83,and after flowing through the respective sections, leaves through thetwo discharge conduits 88. The outlets for the two courses may beprovided with thermostatic valves 93 and 9 to control the temperature inwhich the fluid leaves each course. The operation of the cupola shown inFigures 9, 10 and 11 is substantially the same as that shown anddescribed in preferred figures and the object is to provide a heatdissipating naked metal shell or lining for the melting zone wherebyheat may be removed from the shell by a coolant.

The embodiment of the cast iron section 80 as shown in Figures 9, 10 and11 for the melting zone may be provided either with the charging zonehaving Cooling vanes presenting a cooling surface for an incoming airblast as shown in Figure 1, or a cooling surface to atmosphere as shownin Figure 7, or a cooling surface to a water spray as shown in Figure 8.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

I claim as my invention:

In a shaft furnace cupola for melting cast iron, said cupola including acharge receiving chamber to receive charging material, a melting chambersupporting the same and having tuyres, a wind box for said tuyeresenclosing said two chambers, said charge receiving chamber comprising aninner metallic shell directly contactable by said charging materials andhaving external radiating vanes disposed in said wind box, said meltingchamber comprising an inner metallic shell directly contactable by ameltable charge and composed of a plurality of individual fluidconducting wall segments, a fluid inlet conduit communicating with thebottom of each segment, a fluid outlet conduit communicating with thetop of each segment, thermostatic valve means associated with saidoutlet conduit of each segment and located in close proximity to saidsegments to control the flow of fluid from the segment into said outletconduit depending upon the fluid temperature and the heat dissipatingrequirements of the individual segment as responded to by saidthermostatic valve means. each segment thereby operating independentlyof all others in control and extraction of heat from the particularportion of the melting cham ber defined by said segment to maintain theparticular segment at a temperature level substantially equal to allother segments.

WILLIAM HENRY MOORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 205,274 Jones June 25, 1878 320,586 Probert June 23, 1885452,607 Hunt May 19, 1891 499,188 Giroux June 6, 1893 651,703 Eadie June12, 1900 1,629,045 Parker May 17, 1927 1,740,886 Barr et a1 Dec. 24,1929 1,828,293 Powell Oct. 20, 1931 2,225,373 Goss Dec. 17, 19402,238,036 Glutts Apr. 15, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Foundry Trade Journal,vol. 87, October 13, 1949, pages 449-456.

